Lois Richer

I confess that my past experiences with some Love Inspired books have not been the most enjoyable for a number of reasons. I have especially dreaded reading ones that focus around children. Usually, these younger characters seem too perfect or deliver less-than-genuine lines. Knowing what this storyline is about from the beginning (a little girl who has a strained relationship with her father)…I confess (again) to some nerves going in.

I had my eye on a another book in this series, but I show more try not to read any series out of order if possible. So, I grabbed a copy of The Holiday Nanny, and I was hooked from the beginning. What an absolutely charming book! Silver captured my heart immediately, and Connie’s understanding and patience was just what Silver and Wade needed to restore their father-daughter relationship.

At the beginning, Connie and Wade had never met as his job required him to work overseas. When he returned home, he made no bones about telling Connie that there would be no possibility of romantic feelings between them, which she had no problem reciprocating. Connie’s history with men was unpleasant, plus she’s trying so hard to be reunited with a father that she hasn’t seen in 11 years. But slowly and delicately, these two hearts were drawn together in the most beautiful way, and I was near to tears by the end.

There are multiple references to God and His love for us that are perfectly placed throughout the book. Wade, slowly but surely, was able to open up his heart, and he and Connie both learned how important it is to trust God to work out all things for their good.

Yes, it was a little cheesy and had a great heartwarming ending as I expect from all Love Inspired books, but I loved it. I mean – REALLY loved it.

4.5 Stars

Originally reviewed at blissbooksandjewels.com show less

I've read all three of the "Faith, Hope, and charity" books and must admit that this one is the best of all three. The chemistry between J.J. and Chris was much more believable than the other two couples we read about. There was some quarreling, but they loved each other as well, and you could tell throughout the book. When they finally admitted seperately (to themselves) that they were in love with the other, I believed it!!!

The waiting is real. So many books there is no waiting...they show more confess their love, get married, and live happily ever after. I'm glad it turned out the way it did. I KNEW how it would turn out, but was glad that while waiting, Jori came to some truths about herself...What happened at Christmas was completely unexpected! I was furious when I said "I could see this coming from miles away..." And then what I thought was coming didn't. Then something did come...then I had to wait MONTHS before what I thought was going to come finally did come!!!

I can only imagine the torture Jori had to go through with the mother-in-law she had. No doubt Chris spent a lot of time protecting her from his family! Ugh...

Very good, and kudos to the author.

My only disappointment in this series is that the people from the previous book(s) is never seen from or heard from again...We don't know 'what happened next' in their lives. show less

I'm sorry, but if ever there was a marriage not made in heaven, it's this one. There was way too much conflict. I mean, they fought like cats and dogs, then suddenly they agreed to get married? Nope, not buying it.

And I always hate it when the male does his high-and-mighty attitude and kisses a girl out of some power struggle, as what happened in this story. I'm sorry, but that guy deserved to be smacked for kissing her like that! He was her boss and that WAS sexual harrassement, plain and show more simple!!!

So, parts of it were okay I suppose. I really liked the religious aspects of this story, but I couldn't STAND that JERK JEREMY!!! She could have done so much better with someone who wasn't as high on himself!!! Even after they were married, Jeremy thought that six babies was going to happen by playing on her affections...

Truthfully, it took me quite awhile to read this short book. I normally start reading for a couple hours before I actually go to sleep and hating putting my Love Inspired down, but I was FALLING ASLEEP before ten o'clock!!! It was soooo slow, and never really got better...

So sorry, but this one is NOT a buyer!!! show less

This book contains two unrelated stories (both are set at Christmas and a ranch favors prominently in each story). If I could rate the two stories individually, I would rate Arlene James' story a 4 and Lois Richer's a 3.

I really enjoyed Arlene James' "The Rancher's Christmas Baby". Rancher Dixon Lyons returns home one night to find his estranged mother has returned, bringing with her a baby and a Lenape woman. Dixon wrestles with his past feelings and beliefs and comes to have a show more relationship with his mother--and surprisingly, his father (and the family he now has) also accept her into their fold. (Too often these stories make the exes a point of contention in the plot.) I feel that Dixon changed and learned life lessons. I do feel the romance part of the story came on rather quickly to know if it truly was a life-long love had this happened in real life. Of course, in fiction, it's the author who decides if the characters stay together or break apart.

In contrast, Lois Richer's "Christmas Eve Cowboy" seemed to start off too slowly and I never seemed to care for her characters as much as I did for James'. I can understand another reviewer's point that too much time was spent on Elizabeth dwelling on her ex-husband's trashing of her self-esteem. Perhaps that wasn't the best choice for a short piece of fiction. In real life, that kind of tearing down probably takes years to repair--probably needing more than a friendly small town and one man who's learning to love you and a few short months to accomplish. I did like that Brett was so encouraging in pushing Elizabeth to do things she liked to do but had given up because of he ex's criticism.

I wish more page time had been given to how Brett resolved his conflicts of wanting to be a veterinarian/not wanting his father to give up the ranch that was his dream/wanting to take care of his father/not wanting to leave Elizabeth instead of just a quick sum up that tells us he's figured out a way to do a distance learning program (not quite sure how you do that for something as competitive as veterinary school, but--as I said above, it's fiction and the author can mold events to her/his liking.) show less